What Is RALA?
What Does RALA Do?
Who Is On The Committee?
How Much Does It Cost To Join?
Join RALA

Information only available to registered users or paid-up Members:
General Meeting Minutes
Committee Meeting Agendas
Committee Meeting Minutes
Accounts
Newsletters

What Is RALA?

RALA is the Residents' and Leaseholders' Association of Nell Gwynn House, an outstanding purpose built Art Deco apartment building in the heart of Chelsea, London. It exists to protect and develop the interests of leaseholders and residents of Nell Gwynn House. The Annual General Meeting of RALA, usually in early December, elects the RALA Committee, which is the vehicle for communicating Members' views and interests to the Maintenance Trustee, building management and the Freeholder. (RALA's Rules and Constitution may be downloaded from the bottom of this page.)

What Does RALA Do?

The Committee, on behalf of RALA, communicates intensively, verbally and in official correspondence, with the Maintenance Trustee, Building Management and on occasions even with the Freeholder, on all issues which might impact the interests of its Members. It is guided by the imperative to return management and services to the "luxury apartment" standards spelt out in leases and desired by the overwhelming majority of residents and leaseholders.

The Committee meets regularly (fortnightly during Major Works) and Committee Members often have external and subcommittee meetings in between. When appropriate, it appoints external professional advisers independent of the Maintenance Trustee and Freeholder to do undertake valuations, advise on critical legal points, provide information about the Collective Enfranchisement process etc.

Examples of issues the RALA Committee has dealt with successfully on behalf of Members in the past are:
* Inappropriate proposals by the Freeholder to develop the basement and build penthouses on the roof
* Replacement of Maintenance Trustee who was not protecting leaseholders' interests
* Lease variations proposed by the Freeholder for its own benefit, with none for leaseholders
* Tightening of Major Works contract and plans in numerous respects, limiting cost and disruption to leaseholders and residents
* Greatly reducing a large 6-figure cost overrun in the contract and avoiding a probable aesthetic blight on the building resulting from poor quantity surveying and project management in relation to new cabling (ameliorated by proposing detailed alternative cabling routes and methods none of the responsible parties had been able to work out)

Examples of current issues being addressed by the Committee are:
* Further potential disruption, delays and cost overruns in the Major Works contract
* Collective Enfranchisement
* Future of the lettings office
* Plan for integrated management of the building and all associated services
* Further unresolved claims against the Freeholder, e.g. its lease obligations to provide four rooms and a caretakers flat

The Committee also publishes this website and a quarterly newsletter, to provide Members with accurate, up to date information about what is happening in NGH and a channel for Members to make their voice heard. Members of the RALA Committee also respond to frequent requests for advice and information from individual RALA Members.

Who Is On The Committee?

The Committee currently consists of:

1. Terry Condon
2. Simon Davie, Chairman
3. Heather Prentice
4. Tonianne Dwyer
5. Chris Springham
6. Tony Howe, Collective Enfranchisement
7. Shirley Manson, Membership Secretary
8. John McKerrow, Treasurer

All are leaseholders who give their time for free, in some cases a lot of time, to protect and further the interests of all leaseholders and residents. Contact details are available here for paid-up Members.

How Much Does It Cost To Join RALA?

Currently it costs £100 per flat for the first year of membership and £50 per flat per annum thereafter. These are very small amounts given the tangible benefits of RALA's work and the unavoidable costs it incurs (mostly external advice). In the past, relatively few leaseholders and residents paid their subscription and RALA has learnt to operate on a shoestring - but if you want the value of your investment or the amenity as a resident to be dramatically improved, now is the time to subscribe.

Join here!